Device for dispensing contents of squeezable tubes

ABSTRACT

The invention pertains to a support for retaining a squeezable tube in an upright position as the contents of the tube are gradually dispensed. The support housing has a center cutout for slidably receiving a rotatable key member. The key member has an elongated slot, which engages a sealed end of the tube and winds the tube up from the sealed end as the contents of the tube are being gradually dispensed. A base frame engages the bottom of the housing; the base frame has a non-skid surface to prevent sliding of the support when positioned on a horizontal surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to devices for use in dispensing contents of squeezable tubes.

Toothpastes and other pastes, as well as cosmetic products and food stuffs, are commonly supplied in a squeezable tube made of a flexible, resilient plastics material. The tube has a dispensing nozzle at one end and is sealed at the other end so that squeezing of the tube causes some of the content to be dispensed through the nozzle. However, as the contents of the tube are dispensed it becomes increasingly difficult to force the material in the tube to the dispensing nozzle. In the past when the tube was made of soft malleable material it was possible to roll the tube up from the sealed end. At present, the tubes are formed from plastic materials and simply unroll after the rolling force is not longer applied.

The problem exists where not entire content of the tube is dispensed. For instance, children and some adults do not make an effort to squeeze all of the toothpaste from the tube and end up discarding up to 25% of the product. At an average of $4.00 per tube of toothpaste, the cost adds up. Dermatologists and other physicians prescribe a wide range of treatments that come in tube form. Some of the prescribed creams cost hundreds of dollars. Artist's paint, craft glue, and other similar supplies can be fairly expensive. Also, many come in metal tubes making it more difficult to empty sufficiently.

Some materials are sold in metal-based tube, such as for instance malleable aluminum. These tubes require crimping from the sealed end to properly empty all of the contents. Direct crimping can be difficult to control smoothly and often results in extrusion of more content than desired. Many expensive cosmetic materials are sold in tubes, and non-dispensed content becomes problematic.

A similar problem exists when an elderly individual or a patient suffering from arthritis has to squeeze a plastic tube. For many, the process is not only difficult but painful. When changing a baby diaper, many mothers and caregivers apply a special lotion to prevent or cure diaper rash. Considering that one hand should always be placed on a baby, squeezing the lotion from a tube with one hand and then finding a way to close the nozzle without smearing the lotion on the changing table and the baby's clothes requires special dexterity.

Various devices for overcoming the problem and enabling dispensing to be more effectively and tidily performed have been proposed. One of such devices is a Martin Museum Tube Squeezer, which is rather bulky and lies flat on a table. This takes up space and makes application to palette difficult. It also wastes paint.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device that is simple and effective in overcoming the problem and has advantage over known devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a device for dispensing contents of squeezable tubes that is easy to use and inexpensive to manufacture.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device for dispensing contents of squeezable tubes that can be positioned upright and retain the tube in an upright position.

It is another object of the invention to provide a device for dispensing contents of squeezable tubes that has a non-skid base.

These and other objects of the invention are achieved through a provision of a support device for maintaining a squeezable tube upright while dispensing contents of the squeezable tube. The device comprises a housing having an upright hollow body with a center cutout extending along the length of the body, a base member frictionally engageable with a lower portion of the body, and a key member slidably engageable with the center cutout.

The key member has a slotted cylindrically-shaped spindle configured to engage the sealed end of the tube while maintaining the tube in an upright orientation. The spindle is provided with an elongated spindle slot having an inner portion and an outer portion, and wherein the inner portion has a rounded configuration. The bottom of the base member has a non-skid bottom surface to prevent the support device from sliding when positioned on a horizontal surface.

As the user rotates the key member the sealed end of the tube gradually winds on the spindle. When the tube is empty, the user slides the key member from the center cutout and removes the empty tube key member. The support device can be used many times detachably supporting the squeezable tube in an upright position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference will not be made to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals, and wherein

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the tube squeezing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a detail top view of the housing tube squeezing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a detail front view of the tube squeezing device housing.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines A-A of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a detail side view of the tube squeezing device housing.

FIG. 6 is a detail bottom view of the tube squeezing device housing.

FIG. 7 is a top view of the tube squeezing device according to the present invention, with the key inserted in the cutout of the housing.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the tube squeezing device with the key positioned in the housing cutout.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines A-A of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a side view of the tube squeezing device with the key positioned in the housing cutout.

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the tube squeezing device with the key positioned in the housing cutout.

FIG. 12 is a detail perspective view of the key member of the tube squeezing device of the present invention.

FIG. 13 a detail top view of the key member.

FIG. 14 is a detail front view of the key member.

FIG. 15 a cross-sectional view taken along lines A-A of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is detail right side view of the key member.

FIG. 17 is a detail perspective view of the base member of the tube squeezing device according to this invention.

FIG. 18 a detail top view of the key base member.

FIG. 19 is a detail side view of the key member.

FIG. 20 is a detail end view of the base member.

FIG. 21 illustrates upright position of the squeezable tube in the support device of the present invention.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning now to the drawings in more detail, numeral 10 designates the tube squeezing device according to this invention. The device 10 comprises a housing 12, a base member 14 configured to frictionally engage the housing, and a rotatable key member 16 slidably engageable with the housing 12. The housing 12 comprises a hollow body 20, which is one of the preferred embodiments is between 2 and 3 inches high, with a bottom side wall 22 being between 3 and 4 inches long and a bottom end wall 24 being between 2 and 3 inches long.

A center cutout 30 is formed along a longitudinal axis of the housing dividing an upper portion of the housing 12 into two mirror-image parts. The center cutout 30 has a lower rounded portion 32, a narrowed middle portion 34, and a gradually widening upper portion 36. A geometric center of the rounded portion 32 is located at or adjacent a centerline of the housing height. In one of the preferred embodiments, the rounded portion 32 has 9/16″ diameter, while the width and height of the narrowed middle portion 34 are about 0.25″.

The upper portion 36 of the center cutout 30 is defined by a pair of spaced apart opposing walls 40, 42, which are rounded on the top and are mirror images of each other. In one of the preferred embodiments, the radius of curvature is about 0.3″. The housing body 20 can have a wall thickness between 0.15′ to about 0.25″. If desired, the housing body 20 can have a lower part wider than the upper part to increase stability of the device. In one aspect of the invention, the volume of the hollow housing 12 is between 4 and 5 cubic inches.

A peripheral bottom cutout 46 is formed in the side wall 22 of the body 20. The bottom cutout can be about 0.15″ wide. The bottom cutout 46 is designed to engage the base member 14, as will be explained in more detail hereinafter. The height of the bottom cutout 46 is selected to be equal to or slightly greater than the height of the peripheral wall of the base member 14.

The base member 16 is formed as a generally rectangular open frame having vertically extending side walls 48, 49 and unitary continuously formed end walls 50, 51. The thickness of the sidewalls 48, 49 and the end walls 50, 51 is at least slightly smaller than the thickness of the peripheral cutout 46 formed in the housing bottom, within which the sidewalls 48, 49 and end walls 50, 51 are configured to frictionally engage.

One or more outwardly vertically extending projections 52 are formed on the sidewalls 48 and 49. In one aspect of the invention, each of the sidewalls 48, 49 carries three spaced-apart projections 52. The end walls 50, 51, similarly carry at least one outwardly vertically extending projection 54. The projections 52, 54, similarly to the entire base member 14 are formed from a flexible resilient material, such that the projections resiliently engage the walls of the bottom cutout 46 and prevent the base member 14 from accidentally disengaging from the housing 20.

A peripheral continuous horizontal lip 56 is provided along the bottom of the base member 14, with the lip extending transversely to the upwardly extending walls of the base member 14. The width of the peripheral lip 56 is substantially equal to the width of the housing bottom so that when the housing 12 is engaged with the base member 14 the outer walls of the device 10 present a smooth uniform appearance. The lip 56 and the base member 14 have non-skid characteristics, thereby preventing the device 10 from sliding along a horizontal surface when the device 10 is in use.

The key member 16 comprises an elongated narrow winding spindle 60 onto which a tube 100 is to be progressively wound flattened as the contents 102 are dispensed from it. An elongate spindle slot 62 is formed in the spindle 60, extending lengthwise from a first end 64 of the spindle 60 to the second end 68 thereof. The spindle slot 62 extends from an exterior of the spindle 60 to about center of the spindle, as can be seen in FIG. 15.

The width of the spindle slot 62 is configured to accommodate a sealed end 106 of the tube 100. The spindle slot 62 has an inner rounded portion 70 and a narrowing outer portion 72. When the sealed end 106 of the tube 100 is forced into the slot 62, the narrowing outer portion 72 frictionally engages the wall of the tube 100 and retains the sealed end of the tube within the spindle slot. In use, the tube 100 remain upright, as shown in FIG. 21.

A twist member 74 is unitary connected to the second end 68 of the spindle 60. The twist member 74 is configured to receive user-applied rotational force and transmit the rotational force to the spindle 60 and thereby to the tube end when the tube is progressively wound on the spindle 60. The twist member 74 can be formed as a flat projection or as a round knob, depending on the designer's preference. The length of the spindle 60 can be greater than the length of the housing 12, such that a portion of the spindle projects outwardly from the end wall of the housing, as shown in FIGS. 1, 7, 8 and 11, while the twist member 74 projects from the opposite end wall of the housing. In use, the cylindrical spindle 60 is positioned in the rounded portion 32 of the center cutout 30.

If desired, the spindle 60 can be narrowed at its first end 64. The narrowed first end 64 facilitates sliding positioning of the spindle in the center cutout 30. In one of the preferred embodiments, the spindle 60 is cylindrical, has a length of between 3″ and 6″, and a width of between 0.4″ to 0.6″. The twist member 74 may have a length of about 1″ to make it comfortable for a user to grip and rotate. The rounded inner portion of the spindle slot 62 can be about 0.25″ in diameter, while the narrowed outer portion of the spindle slot can be about 0.125″ wide.

It is envisioned that the device 10 can be used for dispensing contents of a variety of tube sizes. Depending on the intended application, the size of the device 10 can differ, and is the size of the center cutout. The dispensing device 10 may be re-used for dispensing simply by removal of the spindle 60 from the housing 12 by sliding it upwardly from the center cutout 30 and then sliding the spindle 60 out from within the wound-up tube 100. The wound-up tube 100 is thereby freed from the dispensing device 10 for disposal, allowing the device 10 to be re-used with a fresh, replacement tube for further incremental dispensing.

FIGS. 1 and 21 illustrate the device 10 of the present invention retaining the tube 100 in a vertical orientation. In this position, the sealed end of the tube 100 is engaged with the spindle 60, while the dispensing end 104 faces upwardly. The tube remains in the vertically-oriented position allowing the user to incrementally dispense the contents 102 by turning the twist member 74 by any desired segment of a revolution.

The device 10 can be made using a variety of manufacturing methods, including molding, and from a variety of materials, such as metal, plastics, etc. The base member 14 can be formed from a flexible, resilient material, such as rubber, plastics and the like. The spindle can be formed from a variety of materials strong enough to withstand multiple applications of rotations force and winding of a tube thereon.

Many changes and modifications can be made in the design of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. I, therefore, pray that my rights to the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims. 

I claim:
 1. A device for dispensing contents of a squeezable tube having a sealed end and a dispensing end, the device comprising: a housing having an upright hollow body with a center cutout extending along the length of the body; a base member frictionally engageable with a lower portion of the body, said base member having a non-skid bottom surface; and a key member slidably engageable with the center cutout, said key member having a slotted spindle configured to engage the sealed end of the tube while maintaining the tube in an upright orientation.
 2. The device of claim 1, said key member comprising a twist member unitary connected to one end of the spindle, said twist member configured to receive user-applied rotational force and to transmit the rotational force to the spindle.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein the spindle is provided with an elongated spindle slot having an inner portion and an outer portion, and wherein the inner portion has a rounded configuration.
 4. The device of claim 3, wherein the spindle has a cylindrical configuration, and the outer portion of the spindle slot has narrowed configuration.
 5. The device of claim 1, said center cutout is formed along a longitudinal axis of the housing dividing an upper portion of the housing into two mirror-image parts.
 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the center cutout has a lower rounded portion, a narrowed middle portion, and a gradually widening upper portion.
 7. The device of claim 6, wherein a geometric center of the lower portion is located adjacent a centerline of the housing.
 8. The device of claim 6, wherein the spindle is configured to be positioned in the lower portion of the center cutout.
 9. The device of claim 6, wherein the upper portion of the center cutout is defined by a pair of spaced apart opposing walls, each of which opposing walls is rounded on top.
 10. The device of claim 9, wherein said opposing walls of the upper portion are mirror images of each other.
 11. The device of claim 1, wherein the body is defined by upright walls, each wall having a bottom part, and wherein a peripheral bottom cutout is formed in the bottom part.
 12. The device of claim 11, wherein the base member comprises a hollow open frame having upwardly extending frame walls, said frame walls carrying outwardly extending spaced-apart projections.
 13. The device of claim 12, wherein the outwardly extending projections are configured to frictionally fit within the peripheral bottom cutout.
 14. The device of claim 12, wherein a peripheral continuous lip is provided along a bottom of the base member, said lip extending transversely to a vertical axis of the upwardly extending frame walls.
 15. A device for dispensing contents of a squeezable tube having a sealed end and a dispensing end, the device comprising: a housing having an upright hollow body with a center cutout extending along the length of the body; a base member frictionally engageable with a lower portion of the body, said base member having a non-skid bottom surface; and a key member slidably engageable with the center cutout, said key member having a slotted cylindrically-shaped spindle configured to engage the sealed end of the tube while maintaining the tube in an upright orientation, the spindle is provided with an elongated spindle slot having an inner portion and an outer portion, and wherein the inner portion has a rounded configuration.
 16. The device of claim 15, said key member comprising a twist member unitary connected to one end of the spindle, said twist member configured to receive user-applied rotational force and to transmit the rotational force to the spindle.
 17. The device of claim 15, wherein said center cutout is formed along a longitudinal axis of the housing dividing an upper portion of the housing into two mirror-image parts, said center cutout having a lower rounded portion, a narrowed middle portion, and a gradually widening upper portion.
 18. The device of claim 17, wherein the spindle is configured to be positioned in the lower portion of the center cutout.
 19. The device of claim 6, wherein a geometric center of the lower portion is located adjacent a centerline of the housing.
 20. The device of claim 17, wherein the upper portion of the center cutout is defined by a pair of spaced apart opposing walls, each of which opposing walls is rounded on top.
 21. The device of claim 15, wherein the body is defined by upright walls, each wall having a bottom part, and wherein a peripheral bottom cutout is formed in the bottom part.
 22. The device of claim 21, wherein the base member comprises a hollow open frame having upwardly extending frame walls, said frame walls carrying outwardly extending spaced-apart projections, and wherein the outwardly extending projections are configured to frictionally fit within the peripheral bottom cutout.
 23. The device of claim 22, wherein a peripheral continuous lip is provided along a bottom of the base member, said lip extending transversely to a vertical axis of the upwardly extending frame walls. 